Notre Dame (7-9, 4-6) at Georgia Tech (8-6, 4-4)
📍 McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta, GA
📅 Saturday, February 6, 2021
🕕 8:00 p.m. ET
📺 ACC Network with Jay Alter and Dan Bonner
📻 Notre Dame Radio Network with Jack Nolan
BY THE NUMBERS: IRISH at YELLOW JACKETS
|
.500 |
In its eighth season in the ACC, Notre Dame has failed to finish .500 or above in the month of February just once (2018-19) – including 6-2 last season – and the second month of the year as keyed some memorable rises in the league standings. See page 4 for more details. |
|
.547 |
Notre Dame’s three-point shooting percentage in its last two road games (23-42). The Irish were 13-24 at Miami on Jan. 24, then 10-18 at Pittsburgh on Jan. 30. |
|
.566 |
Notre Dame career field goal percentage for graduate forward Juwan Durham, which would rank him fifth on the Irish career charts since 1996-97 for a player with at least 200 FGM. See page 4 for more. |
|
3 |
Statistical categories in which junior Nate Laszewski is among the top 10 in the country – EFG% (.727, 2nd); FG% (.623, ninth) and 3FG% (.509, 10th). Laszewski is the only major conference player in the nation shooting .600 from the field, .500 from 3FG range and averaging over 8.0 rebounds per game. |
|
5 |
So far this season, Notre Dame has lost five scheduled games to COVID-19 safety guidelines, while two other games (last Saturday at Pittsburgh, Feb. 20 at Syracuse) are rescheduled contests that were also lost to COVID-19 issues. Notre Dame’s Jan. 6 home game with Georgia Tech has yet to be rescheduled. |
|
11.8 |
Notre Dame’s NCAA-leading fouls per game number, as the Irish continue their tradition of not fouling the opponent to allow easy points late in a contest. The Irish are ahead of Virginia (12.7) and Wright State (13.1) for the national lead. |
|
20+ |
Notre Dame’s 26-point victory at Pittsburgh on Jan. 30, followed by the 21-point win agains Wake Forest on Feb. 2, marked the first time since the Irish joined the ACC (2013-14) that the team has won back-to-back games by 20 points or more. |
|
24 |
Notre Dame and Georgia Tech will be meeting for the 24th time Saturday evening, with the Irish holding a 12-11 lead in the series. Notre Dame has won four in a row against the Yellow Jackets and will be looking to win five straight for the first time in the series between the two teams. |
|
39 |
Rebounds pulled down in the last three games by Nate Laszewski, who has bolstered his rebounds-per-game average from 4.6 last season to 8.2 in 2020-21 – a mark that ranks third in the ACC entering this weekend’s action. |
|
160 |
Career blocked shots for Juwan Durham, who passed Torin Francis (157) to move into fourth on the Notre Dame career list. Durham is one of just three Irish players to average over 2.0 blocks per game in a career (LaPhonso Ellis, current Irish assistant coach Ryan Humphrey). |
|
244 |
Career assists in ACC play for Prentiss Hubb – the most of any active ACC player (Xavier Johnson, Pitt, is second with 219) and seventh among all active major conference players. Hubb is the first Irish player to record 200 assists in ACC play. |
|
384 |
Career assists for Prentiss Hubb, who is one of just two major conference players to have over 380 assists and 150 three point field goals in a career. The other two players are in their fifth season of action, Hubb is in his third. See page 4 for more details. |
|
444 |
School-record men’s basketball victories at Notre Dame for Mike Brey, the 10th most for any active NCAA Division coach at his current institution. |
|
1994 |
Notre Dame Associate Head Coach Rod Balanis is a 1994 graduate of Georgia Tech and played for legendary Yellow Jacket head coach Bobby Cremins. Balanis was a part of teams that made four trips to the NCAA Championship tournament while earning two Sweet 16 berths and a trip to the 1990 Final Four in Denver, Colorado. |
2020-21 ROSTER – IRISH ITEMS
|
Projected Starting Lineup |
||
|
Pos |
Name |
Notes |
|
G |
Prentiss Hubb Team Captain |
16 GP | 15 GS | 14.5 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 5.7 apg 2020-21 Top Performance: 26 pts, 5-9 3FG, 6 reb, 6 ast vs. No. 22/20 Ohio State 41 assists in last five games played, Irish are 4-1 in that stretch • one of four major conference players this season to have multiple 10+ points, 10+ assist games this season, Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia) and Hubb are the only ones to post such a game in conference action • has bounced back from a 1-21 3FG shooting slump to go 17-35 (.485) from behind the arc in the past five games |
|
G |
Trey Wertz |
11 GP | 7 GS | 7.6 ppg | 2.4 rpg | 2.6 apg 2020-21 Top Performance: 27 pts, 5-10 3FG vs. Purdue activated on December 16 after the NCAA granted a blanket waiver to all Division I first-time transfers who arrive on campus in the fall of 2020 • ND career-high 35 minutes vs. VT on 1/27 |
|
G |
Dane Goodwin |
16 GP | 14 GS | 12.5 ppg | 5.0 rpg | 2020-21 Top Performance: 25 pts, 4 3FG, 10-12 FG vs. 21/23 Duke Streaky scorer who can find points on all three levels • led the Irish with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting against Boston College (1/16/21) • 16 pts, 9 reb at Pittsburgh on Jan. 30 |
|
F |
Juwan Durham Team Captain |
16 GP | 12 GS | 9.4 ppg | 5.2 rpg | 1.9 bpg 2020-21 Top Performance: 19 pts, 5 reb vs. No. 23/24 Virginia fourth on Notre Dame’s career blocked shots list with 154 • career .561 FG shooter • has scored double figures in five of the past six games, the outlier the Jan. 27 game with Virginia Tech when he was limited to 11 minutes with foul trouble • averages over that six-game run: 12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg |
|
F |
Nate Laszewski |
16 GP | 15 GS | 14.8 ppg | 8.2 rpg | .509 3FG% 2020-21 Top Performance(s): 28 pts, 6 reb vs. No. 23/24 Virginia | 25 pts, 7-11 3FG at UNC as teams adjust to his outside shooting, has started to drive and score around the basket • leads ACC and major conf. players in EFG% .727 • has nine games this season with nine rebounds or more • 39 rebounds in last four games played, the best four-game stretch of his career |
|
Off The Bench |
||
|
G |
Cormac Ryan Team Captain |
15 GP | 12 GS | 10.0 ppg | 4.1 rpg | 2.8 apg 2020-21 Top Performance(s): 19 pts, 5-6 3FG at Pittsburgh | 16 pts at No. 18/22 Virginia sat out 2019-20 as a transfer from Stanford • 32 points off the bench in the last two games • has come off the bench in three of last four games played (missed VT game on 1/27 with sprained foot) to average 14 points and shoot .625 (10-16) from three-point range |
|
F |
Nikola Djogo Team Captain |
14 GP | 2 GS | 4.5 ppg | 3.4 rpg | .537 FG 2020-21 Top Performance: 11 pts, 3-5 3FG vs. Purdue made first starts in two years at Virginia Tech and at Miami • provided spark off the bench vs. Purdue with 11 pts • last three games has pulled down six (Miami), seven Pitt) and eight (WF) rebounds • entered the season a career .304 shooter, has raised his season shooting percentage to .537 in 2020-21, bolstered by the last five games in which he is 11-19 (.578) from the field |
|
F |
Matt Zona |
13 GP | 1.5 rpg 2020-21 Top Performance: 5 reb at UNC | 3 reb, 2 pts vs. No. 22/20 Ohio State freshman front court player can provide energy, hustle and rebounding off the bench • pulled down 5 rebounds in 18 minutes at North Carolina |
|
F |
Tony Sanders Jr. |
13 GP | 0.4 rpg 2020-21 Top Performance: 5 pts, 1-1 3FG vs. Detroit Mercy played 11 minutes with two rebounds and a steal vs. VT (1/27) |
|
G |
Elijah Morgan |
8 GP | 0.9 ppg 2020-21 Top Performance: 3 pts at Michigan State | 2 pts at UNC walk-on guard who has seen spot duty as a defensive specialist • played career-high six minutes vs. VT on Jan. 27 |
|
G |
Robby Carmody |
working through rehabilitation season after ACL surgery in 2019, broken knee cap in Aug. 2020 • has suffered injuries that have prematurely ended his freshman and sophomore seasons • not expected to return to the court this season as he rehabs from his knee injuries |
|
F |
Elijah Taylor |
underwent successful left ankle surgery on December 11, will miss the 2020-21 season as he rehabs the injury that was suffered during his prep career • athletic front court player with a high motor • bright future in the Irish basketball program |
FEBRUARY = ACC SURGES FOR IRISH HOOPS
In three of the last four seasons, Notre Dame has entered the month of February on a downward trend, only to utlize the second month of the year as a springboard up the league standings. The Irish are 1-0 in February so far this season.
- 2016-17 – Notre Dame finished January 0-3, then dropped the first game of February before finishing the month with five straight victories. The Irish finished the season 12-6 in the ACC and advanced to the ACC Championship game and the second round of the NCAA tournament.
- 2017-18 – Knocked back by injuries, the Irish limped into February with six consecutive losses and again lost their first game of the month. Notre Dame persevered to finish 5-3 in February, win two games in the ACC tournament and were widely recognized as the final team left out of the NCAA tournament.
- 2019-20 – Losing four of six games entering February and saddled by a 2-6 conference record, Notre Dame finished 6-2 through an eight-game February ACC slate to eventually finish 10-10 in the league and win its first game in the ACC tournament before the post season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The Irish are 27-20 in February as a member of the ACC. Remove the outlier February in 2018-19 (2-5) and Notre Dame is 25-15 in February (.625) and has failed to win at least four games only once (the aforementioned 2018-19 season).
HUBB’S ASSISTS/THREE POINT SHOOTING AMONG THE BEST IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Prentiss Hubb’s 244 career assists are the most of any active ACC player. The Upper Marlboro, MD, native is up to 384 career assists as well (see sidebar, page 6).
- Hubb also has connected at 159 career three-point field goals, giving him over 380+ assists and 150+ 3FGM.
- He joins Wisconsin’s D’Mitrick Trice and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon – both of whom are in their fifth season of action – as the only major conference players with 350+ assists and 150+ 3FGM.
- Among all Division I players, Hubb is among 16 who have posted 380+ assists and 150+ 3FGM. He and UConn’s R.J. Cole are the only players to reach those marks in their third season of action (all 16 others are either in their fourth or fifth season of eligibility).
CHARTING LASZEWSKI’S HOT SHOOTING
Junior Nate Laszewski has established himself as one of the best and most efficient shooters in college basketball this season.
A look at where Laszewski ranks among the NCAA, major conference and ACC leaders:
|
Statistic |
Number |
National Ranking |
Major Conference Ranking |
ACC Ranking |
Notes |
|
EFG% |
.727 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
min 5 FGM per game, 8 GP |
|
3FG% |
.509 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
min 1.5 3FGM per game, 8 GP |
|
FG% |
.623 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
min 5 FGM per game, 8 GP |
LASZEWSKI FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE ON PACE FOR A SPOT ON SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS
Junior Nate Laszewski is currently shooting 62% from the field (.623) – a mark that would rank sixth all-time and first in the Mike Brey era (2000-01 – current). With 130 attempts this season, Laszewski is on pace to reach 150 attempts to qualify for the single-season lists.
NOTRE DAME SINGLE-SEASON FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
|
Player |
Season |
FGM |
FGA |
FG% |
|
Bruce Flowers |
1978-79 |
100 |
166 |
.656 |
|
Orlando Woolridge |
1980-81 |
156 |
240 |
.650 |
|
Keith Robinson |
1987-88 |
123 |
190 |
.647 |
|
LaPhonso Ellis |
1991-92 |
227 |
360 |
.631 |
|
John Shumate |
1973-74 |
281 |
449 |
.627 |
|
NATE LASZEWSKI |
2020-21 |
81 |
130 |
.623 |
Behind the three-point line, Laszewski is at .509 – which would rank second on the Irish single-season charts.
NOTRE DAME SINGLE SEASON THREE POINT PERCENTAGE
|
Player |
3FGM |
3FGA |
3FG% |
|
|
Joe Fredrick |
1988-89 |
37 |
71 |
.521 |
|
NATE LASZEWSKI |
2020-21 |
27 |
53 |
.509 |
|
Joe Fredrick |
1989-90 |
34 |
72 |
.472 |
|
Keith Friel |
1997-98 |
45 |
97 |
.464 |
|
Martin Ingelsby |
2000-01 |
51 |
110 |
.464 |
|
David Graves |
1999-2000 |
83 |
182 |
.456 |
|
Chris Quinn |
2004-05 |
66 |
145 |
.455 |
DURHAM CAREER FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE HIGH ON IRISH CAREER CHARTS
Graduate forward Juwan Durham boasts a .566 career field goal percentage at Notre Dame, a mark that would rank him fifth among Irish players with 200 or more FGM since 1996-97:
|
Player |
Seasons |
FGM |
GP |
FG% |
|
Martinas Geben |
2014-18 |
216 |
108 |
.608 |
|
Jack Cooley |
2009-13 |
394 |
123 |
.601 |
|
Harold Swanagan |
1998-2002 |
301 |
127 |
.569 |
|
Zach Auguste |
2012-16 |
507 |
128 |
.567 |
|
JUWAN DURHAM |
2018-21 |
219 |
75 |
.566 |
|
Bonzie Colson |
2014-18 |
609 |
125 |
.528 |
IRISH BOAST SOLID RECORD FOR ANNUAL HOME-AND-HOME ACC SERIES
Since joining the ACC for the 2013-14 season, Boston College and Georgia Tech have been designated as the ‘traditional’ yearly rivals for Notre Dame in the league. Each season, the Irish have met the Eagles and Yellow Jackets for home-and-home series. Notre Dame is tied for first in the league against its designated repeat opponents since 2013-14 (records include post season matchups – as of Jan. 28, 2021.):
RECORD VS. ACC ANNUAL HOME-AND-HOME OPPONENTS SINCE 2013-14
|
Team |
Opponent |
Opponent |
Record |
|
NOTRE DAME |
Boston College |
Georgia Tech |
25-6 |
|
Virginia |
Virginia Tech |
Louisville |
25-6* |
|
Duke |
North Carolina |
Wake Forest |
23-9 |
|
Syracuse |
Boston College |
Pittsburgh |
22-11 |
|
Florida State |
Miami |
Clemson |
21-11 |
|
North Carolina |
Duke |
NC State |
20-13 |
* – Virginia repeated with Maryland in 2013-14
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTED BY 1,000 POINT SCORERS
Notre Dame has produced 64 1,000 point scorers throughout the history of the program with 23 of those players reaching that statistical milestone during the Mike Brey era (2000-01 – current). Of the 85 players who have suited up for Notre Dame under Mike Brey, 36 of them were recruited by the staff and exhausted their eligibility with the Irish – 20 of those players have scored more than 1,000 points in a career.
Since 2000-01, Notre Dame leads all ACC teams in 1,000 point scorers (23) and is second in the country over that time frame to Villanova.
|
School |
All-Time 1,000 Point Scorers |
1,000 Point Scorers since 2000-01 |
|
North Carolina |
77 |
20 |
|
Louisville |
69 |
18 |
|
Duke |
67 |
20 |
|
NOTRE DAME |
64 |
23 |
|
Villanova |
64 |
24 |
|
Syracuse |
62 |
19 |
|
Kansas |
61 |
19 |
A DECADE OF ‘NO FOUL’ CONTINUES
One of the mantras of Notre Dame basketball under Mike Brey has been to keep the amount of opponent foul shots down. Defend without fouling is a way of life for Irish basketball and the statistics bear out that trend.
In the last 11 years, Notre Dame has failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just twice. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls three times.
The NCAA has been tracking the least amount of fouls committed in a season since 1993. Notre Dame is the only team since 1993 to lead the country in least amount of fouls more than twice (four times) and could be on pace to make it six times this season.
NOTRE DAME FOULS PER GAME NATIONAL/CONFERENCE FINAL RANKING
|
Year |
Fouls Per Game |
NCAA Raking |
Conference Ranking |
|
2009-10 |
15.1 |
10 |
2 |
|
2010-11 |
15.2 |
11 |
1 |
|
2011-12 |
13.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2012-13 |
14.1 |
8 |
1 |
|
2013-14 |
16.2 |
15 |
5 |
|
2014-15 |
15.1 |
6 |
1 |
|
2015-16 |
15.1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2016-17 |
14.9 |
4 |
1 |
|
2017-18 |
13.1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2018-19 |
13.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2019-20 |
12.4 |
1 |
1 |
|
2020-21 |
11.8 |
1 |
1 |